A relatively complete Late Maastrichtian succession of the upper part of the Shiranish Formation (Upper Cretaceous) in the Duhok area is investigated for the planktic foraminiferal assemblages. This studied interval consists mainly of bluish shale, marl, and thin beds of hard marly limestone all with grey-blue color. The upper contact of the Shiranish Formation is conformable with the overlies Danian Aaliji Formation. Based on the recorded planktic foraminifera and their ranges, the studied succession is subdivided into three main biozones of the latest Maastrichtian age, these zones are Pseudoguembelina hariaensis (CF3) Interval Zone, Pseudoguembelina palpebra (CF2) Interval Zone, and Plummerita hantkeninoides (CF1) Total Range Zone. These zones show continuous and complete Upper Cretaceous sediments, which are preserved in the Bade section of the Duhok area
The occurrence of the Danian Stage at Kurdistan Region of Iraq, particularly in the high folded zone, was a debatable subject by many authors. Most of the previous studies believe that it is poorly preserved. This study reviews the Danian sequence at Per Fat of Duhok area using high resolution biostratigraphic analysis of the planktic foraminifera. The Danian stage sequence in the studied locality is represented by the marlstone, shale, and marly limestone rock types of the Aaliji Formation. Occasional iron oxides and microscopic glauconites intervals are characteristics. The thickness of the Danian sequence is about 29.71 m. The sequence is underlined by the Upper Cretaceous Shiranish Formation, and overlies by the green-olive clastic sediments of the Paleocene Kolosh Formation. Biostratigraphic zonation of the identified foraminiferal assemblages shows the occurrence of the four Danian Planktic foraminiferal biozones and three subzones including Guembelitria cretacea partial-range zone (P0); Parvularugoglobigerina eugubina total range zone (Pα); Parasubbotina pseudobulloides partial-range zone (P1); Globanomalina archaeocompressa partial-range subzone (P1a), Subbotina triloculinoides interval subzone (P1b), Globanomalina compressa-Praemurica inconstans interval subzone (P1c); and Praemurica uncinata interval zone (P2). This indicates a complete sequence of the Danian stage is preserved in the Per Fat section of Duhok area.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.